HINT: High-quality INpainting Transformer with Mask-Aware Encoding and Enhanced Attention

Existing image inpainting methods leverage convolution-based downsampling approaches to reduce spatial dimensions. This may result in information loss from corrupted images where the available information is inherently sparse, especially for the scenario of large missing regions. Recent advances in self-attention mechanisms within transformers have led to significant improvements in many computer vision tasks including inpainting. However, limited by the computational costs, existing methods cannot fully exploit the efficacy of long-range modelling capabilities of such models. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end High-quality INpainting Transformer, abbreviated as HINT, which consists of a novel mask-aware pixel-shuffle downsampling module (MPD) to preserve the visible information extracted from the corrupted image while maintaining the integrity of the information available for highlevel inferences made within the model. Moreover, we propose a Spatially-activated Channel Attention Layer (SCAL), an efficient self-attention mechanism interpreting spatial awareness to model the corrupted image at multiple scales. To further enhance the effectiveness of SCAL, motivated by recent advanced in speech recognition, we introduce a sandwich structure that places feed-forward networks before and after the SCAL module. We demonstrate the superior performance of HINT compared to contemporary state-of-the-art models on four datasets, CelebA, CelebA-HQ, Places2, and Dunhuang

A Feasibility Study on Image Inpainting for Non-cleft Lip Generation from Patients with Cleft Lip

A Cleft lip is a congenital abnormality requiring surgical repair by a specialist. The surgeon must have extensive experience and theoretical knowledge to perform surgery, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) method has been proposed to guide surgeons in improving surgical outcomes. If AI can be used to predict what a repaired cleft lip would look like, surgeons could use it as an adjunct to adjust their surgical technique and improve results. To explore the feasibility of this idea while protecting patient privacy, we propose a deep learning-based image inpainting method that is capable of covering a cleft lip and generating a lip and nose without a cleft. Our experiments are conducted on two real-world cleft lip datasets and are assessed by expert cleft lip surgeons to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, BHI 202

Regulatory t-cells and their impacts on cytokine profile of end-stage renal disease patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus

Autoimmunity is an identified factor for development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) play a fundamental role in preventing autoimmunity. This study aimed to determine Treg frequency and its effects on cytokine profile of ESRD patients with and without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Moreover, this study also determines how Treg number is affected by blood transfusion and gender. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 26 ESRD and 10 healthy subjects and stained with anti-CD4, anti-CD25, and anti-FoxP3 antibodies. Treg frequencies in ESRD patients with and without blood transfusion were determined by flow cytometry. Antibodies against human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) were investigated by panel-reactive antibodies screening. Tumor growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-17A, and interferon (IFN)-γ serum levels in participants were measured by enzyme-linked immunoasorbent assay (ELISA). ESRD patients with SLE, unlike the patients without SLE, showed a significant reduction in Treg percentage compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.01). All women had a reduced number of Tregs compared to men. Treg number was significantly decreased in ESRD patients with HLA antibodies (P < 0.05). Blood transfusion enhanced Treg development in ESRD patients without SLE, unlike the patients with SLE (P < 0.05). ESRD patients with low Treg showed a reduction in TGF-β1 and IL-4 and an increase in TNF-α and IL-17A levels compared to control groups (P < 0.05�0.0001). However, no change was observed in IL-10 and IFN-γ levels. Treg frequency was negatively associated with the age of patients (P < 0.01), while this association was not observed in healthy subjects. Based on these findings, it can be observed that reduction in Treg number may contribute to ESRD development in patients with SLE. © The Author(s) 2019

Numerical study of linear and circular model DNA chains confined in a slit: metric and topological properties

Advanced Monte Carlo simulations are used to study the effect of nano-slit confinement on metric and topological properties of model DNA chains. We consider both linear and circularised chains with contour lengths in the 1.2--4.8 $\mu$m range and slits widths spanning continuously the 50--1250nm range. The metric scaling predicted by de Gennes' blob model is shown to hold for both linear and circularised DNA up to the strongest levels of confinement. More notably, the topological properties of the circularised DNA molecules have two major differences compared to three-dimensional confinement. First, the overall knotting probability is non-monotonic for increasing confinement and can be largely enhanced or suppressed compared to the bulk case by simply varying the slit width. Secondly, the knot population consists of knots that are far simpler than for three-dimensional confinement. The results suggest that nano-slits could be used in nano-fluidic setups to produce DNA rings having simple topologies (including the unknot) or to separate heterogeneous ensembles of DNA rings by knot type.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

Friction stir spot welding of TiO2 nanoparticle-reinforced interstitial free steel

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of different content of TiO2 nanoparticles and FSSW parameter such as tool rotational speed on microstructure and mechanical properties of IF steel FSSW joints. FSSW joints were realized by adding 0.45, 1.14, 2 wt% of TiO2nanoparticles to IF steel. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy studied along with the results of microhardness measurements and tensile shear analyses. The obtained results showed that the optimal welding conditions were a tool rotational speed of 1120 rpm and a dwell time of 9 s. Microstructural observations demonstrated a good dispersion of TiO2 reinforcements in the steel matrix. TiO2 nanoparticles addition led to a remarkable increase in the mechanical properties of the produced welds. This was attributed to the fine grain size obtained thanks to the ceramic particles addition. The hardness and ultimate load of joints produced by TiO2 amount of 1.14 wt% are optimum welding conditions for fabrication of the best quality of welds which have attributed to the uniform dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles in the weld regions. For higher than 1.14 wt% content of TiO2, nanoparticles agglomeration occurred, this resulted in the decrease in strength and ductility

Microstructure and Corrosion Properties of CP-Ti Processed by Laser Powder Bed Fusion under Similar Energy Densities

In this work, two types of CP Ti cubes with similar volumetric energy densities (VED) but different process parameters were produced using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) method. The corrosion behavior of the fabricated specimens was investigated by conducting electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization experiments in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution at 37 °C. The results indicated that the microstructure and porosities, which are of great importance for biomedical applications, can be controlled by changing the process parameters even under constant energy densities. The sample produced with a lower laser power (E1) was featured with a higher level of porosity and thinner alpha laths, as compared with the sample fabricated with a higher laser power (E2). Moreover, results obtained from the bioactivity tests revealed that the sample produced with a higher laser power conferred a slight improvement in the bioactivity due to the higher amount of porosity. Lower laser power and hence higher porosity level promoted the formation of bone-like apatite on the surface of the printed specimens. The potentiodynamic polarization tests revealed inferior corrosion resistance for the fabricated sample with higher porosity. Moreover, the EIS results after different immersion times indicated that a stable oxide film was formed on the surface of samples for all immersion times. After 1 and 3 days of immersion, superior passivation behavior was observed for the sample fabricated with lower laser power. However, very similar impedance and phase values were observed for all the samples after 14 days of immersion